Wall construction



Feb; J. J. MANOFSKY 2,340,891

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan, 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John JManOfsky,

A TORNEYS Fell 1944- J. J. MANOFSKY WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mfg-MM.

ATTORNEYS assessed at. s. is

WALL @GNSERUCTMDN John J. Manofsky, Win, Ohio, aesignor to National Gypsum Company, Builialo, N. E.

"16 Claims.

This invention relates to wall constructions and has particular reference to the construction of building walls comprising a skeleton framework or other supporting structure covered with plaster or with wall panels or the like.

In; the prior art partition walls have been conventionally constructed by erecting a series of wood or metallic studs and applying thereto a series of wall panels or plaster supporting lath, the latter being either wood lath, expanded metal, plaster lath or the like and covered with a coat of plaster. Similarly, interior finishing walls have been associated with the outer walls of buildings by furring such walls and then proceeding as in the case of partition walls.

According to the principles of my present lnvention I provide a wall structure which may be readily and conveniently assembled without the use of special tools and with a minimum number of parts. The placement of the elements of the construction and their assembly with respect to each other may be accomplished more or less without special measuring or gaging since the nature of the component elements is such as to provide automatically for proper spacing and disposition of the elements.

In the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings, I have described and illustrated means and methods for embodying the principles of my present invention in connection with the construction of building walls of various types. In the first two embodiments which will be described herein, the walls are in the nature of partitions wherein the opposed sides of the completed wall are finished and usually present a generally similar appearance. In another of the embodiments the wall illustrated is a component in a double wall construction wherein there is an outer building wall and, spaced inwardly thereof, a wall constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention but having only its exposed surface, that surface which is away from the exterior building wall portion, finished. In still another embodiment the principles of the present invention are adapted to use in connection with the construction of a wall which is disposed against the interior surface of an outside building wall to complete the same and present the usual interior plaster wall having suitable edge finishing treatment in the form of a baseboard or the like.

The lower portion of the partition wall structures which form a part of my invention comprise, essentially, a pair of longitudinal base a means for securing the securing and positioning element either to a building floor or to an adjacent vertical. wall. In certain of the illustrated instances the securing and positioning element is further provided with means for engaging andsupportlng the lower end of a vertical stud, other means being provided for engaging the upper end of the stud adjacent the ceiling of the structure with which the wall is being associated.

In the accompanying drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view throug a wall constructed in accordance with theprinciples of my invention in one exemplary form;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the skeleton framework of the wall of this form of p the invention with one of the base members in disassembled position;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to the lower portion of Fig. 1 showing another form 01' the base means of my invention as employed in the construction of partition walls;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing a double wall constructionwherein the inner wall has only its exposed race finished;

Fig. 5 is another cross sectional view wherein the base means or my invention is adapted for use in constructing an interior race for an exterior building wall;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the base securing and positioning element of the embodiment of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of base securing means.

In the drawings like characters of reference denote like parts and, referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral Ill designates a floor of a bulldingg in which a partition wall, for instance, is to be erected, while ll daignates the ceiling of such building. In building such partition wall -I preferably employ a pair of base members l3 and ll. each of which comprises a vertical web portion having return bent portions at both their upper and lower edges as at 15.

members and a spacing and securing element Straight sections of the base members It and I4 are identical in formation and interchangeable but it will be understood that curved sections for going around corners and the like are preferably formed with sufflcient difference of curvature, as betweencooperating members It and H, t vide a uniform space between the members around the curve and, consequently, uniform thickness of the resultant wall.

Fastening elements are provided for positioning and securing the base members l3 and I in assembled position and in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 each such fastening element comprises a central web portion adapted to be disposed vertically and extending transversely between base members l3 and I4 in finally assembled position. At each side edge the web portion ll of each fastening element is provided with a vertical flange extending at right angles to the web portion. The flange at one of the edges of the fastening element is designated l3 and is provided with upper and lower extensions l8 and 20.

By virtue of such extensions the fastening member may be conveniently and securely attached to a base member l3 by disposing the flange l8 against the inner face of the base member 3 with the web portion l1 extending more or less horizontally and then rotating the fastening member until the web portion ll extends vertically, whereupon the upper and lower extensions i9 and 20 will engage under the upper and lower return bent flanges l of the base member l3. The overall dimension of the flange I8 is preferably such that a slight amount of force must be exerted to bring the web portion I! to a vertical position and this snugness of fit provides a satisfactorily secure preliminary assembly, although further steps in the assembly and construction of a wall prevent positively and absolutely the separation of the fastening element from the channel I3.

Extending horizontally from the base of the vertical web portion I1 is a nailing flange 23 and such flange is preferably formed with an opening or openings as at 24 for the reception of a nail or other securing means. It will be noted that with the fastening element assembled with one only of the base members, the member l3, ready access may be had to the flange 23 for hammering or otherwise securing the device to a floor or the like.

After the assembled fastening element and the base member l3 have been secured to a floor in assembled position, the other base member I4 is brought into the assembly and to this end the other side flange 26 of the fastening element has pivotally attached thereto a plate 21. The flange 26 is shorter in vertical dimension than the flange l8, that is, it does not have the upper and lower extensions I9 and 20, and this flange may consequently be placed directly against the inner face of the base member I4 when the pivotally attached plate 21 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The plate 21 has a flange 28 which serves as a handle means for moving the plate about its pivot 29 and, after the second base member ll has been positioned the plate 21 is moved to a vertical position, that is, into substantial coincidence with the flange 26 of the fastening element. When this is done the lower end of the plate 21 engages within the lower intumed flange l5 of the base member l4 and the upper end thereof likewise engages under the upper engagement of the upper and lower ends of the plate 21 with the flanges I! of the base member I4 is substantially the same as the engagement of the upper and lower extensions l3 and 13 of the flange 13 with the flanges of the base member l3 with the distinction that such engagement may be effected or disrupted without change in the relative positions of the fastening means proper and the base member H.

For supporting the lower end of a channel shaped stud 30 an ear 3| is formed from the vertical web portion ll of the fastening element and such ear extends outwardly away from the web portion proper, then upwardly in spaced parallel relation thereto.

For engaging and supporting the upper ends of studs 33 various means may be provided and in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 such means comprise a longitudinally extending element .which has a securing flange 34, a depending intermediate web portion 35, and an oppositely bent stud-engaging flange 36 at the lower edge of the web portion 36. The securing flange 3| is provided with openings (not shown) for receiving nails or other securing elements and is usually fastened directly against the ceiling of the building wherein the partition is being erected. Openings 38 for reception of the upper ends of the studs 30 are formed in the stud engaging flange 36.

In assembling the framework for a partition the upper longitudinally extending element and the base assembly previously described are secured, respectively, to the ceiling and the floor of the building structure and studs 30 are disposed in position at the desired spacing by first inserting the upper end of each stud through an opening 38 in the flange 36 of the upper member with the stud held slantwise to clear the base assembly. The stud is then moved to a vertical position and the lower end is moved downwardly so that the web of the channel en-' gages between the vertically extending web I! of the fastening means and the ear 3| which is struck therefrom, with the lower end of the channel resting upon the horizontal part of such ear.

In the illustration of Figs. 1 and 2 the ear 3| is offset somewhat in order that the metal lath 40 is disposed in a more nearly central position with respect to the completed wall than if the ear 3| were located centrally of the web portion H. The ear 3| may, however, be located centrally of the web portion IT, as is illustrated in Fig. 3, and particularly so in the case of thicker walls. Furthermore, in some instances, metal lath will be applied to both sides of the studs 30 and in such case also a central location of the ear 3| is to be preferred.

With the thus assembled framework in position, various methods of completing the wall structure may be resorted to but for the purpose of delineation the method of completing a wall comprising the use of metal lath and plaster will be set forth. Expanded metal lath 40 is placed across the expanse which is being partitioned and the lath may be secured to the studs 30 by means of the wire loops 4| indicated in the drawing. In the preferred form an upper loop is provided which engages through openings 43 formed in the vertical web 35 of the upper longitudinal member and serves the dual purpose of securing the upper edge of the metal lath and of inturned flange ii of the base member. The 15 securing the associated stud 30 against vertical assess: I 3

displacement during completion of thepartition wall.

The construction of the partition is then completed by applying plaster to both sides of the xpanded metal lath 40 and preferably to a thickness which will bring the finished surface of the plaster partition wall flush with the outsides of the base members I! and I4. It will be noted that the openings 43 in the upper longi: tudinal member are adapted to receive plaster and thereby furnish an additional interlock between the plaster wall and the metallic framework. Furthermore, plaster is intended to completely fill the space between the base members i3 and I4 and the finally assembled relationship of the parts is thereby definitely maintained.

It is within the contemplation of the present invention to employ pivoted base flange engaging plates on both of the opposite side flanges of the fastening element, in which event, of course, the upper and lower extensions i9 and of the side flange it of Figs. 1 and 2 will be omitted. Such modification is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein longitudinal base elements 45 and 48 are provided and such base elements may be of the same form as the base elements it and N of Figs. 1 and 2. In this form the base positioning and securing element is designated 41 and comprises a transverse portion 48 extending between the base members 45 and 46 and having a pair of lateral flanges 49 and 50 respectively for pivotally supporting a pair of plates ii and 52 which are similar in form to the plate 21 of Figs. 1 and 2.

The transverse portion 48 of the positioning element 41 is provided with a stud engaging ear 58 as in the previously described embodiment and a stud is shown at 54. In details other than those set forth above the base construction of Fig. 3 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2. An advantage of the construction shown in Fig. 3 is found in the fact that assembly may be more conveniently effected from either side and either or both of the base elements 55 and 48 may be brought into assembled position after the securing and positioning element has been secured in position on the floor of the building.

In Fig. 4 a building floor is shown at 60 and the numeral 6| designates the interior surface of an external building wall which may be of brick, stone, monolithic concrete, or of any other suitable construction. In this embodiment the wall of the present invention is adapted to cooperate with such external building wall to provide a double wall construction with an insulating dead air space therebetween. According-to the construction of Fig. 4 a single base element 63, which is similar to the longitudinal base members i4, i5, 45 and 46 previously described, is provided. For supporting and positioning the base member 83, and also for supporting and positioning the lower ends of stud elements, a fastening and positioning member 64 is provided.

The fastening and positioning member 64 preferably comprises a body portion 85 which extends substantially perpendicularly away from the inner surface of the base member 63 and hit ill

The stud engaging ears ll, 53 and 88 described in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 1 through 4 are shown in the drawings as bein disposed slightly above the floor engaging flanges of the several securing and positioning members. In the alternative I contemplate locating the stud engaging ears so that their lower horizontal portions lie in the same plane as the base flanges so that the weight of the completed wall, to the extent that such weight is carried by the stud framework, rests directly upon the building fioor.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the longitudinal base element of my invention and the principles of its positioning and securement are shown adapted to use in cases where it is desired to apply an interior finishing surface to an external building wall which is designated in Fig. 5. In such case the longitudinal base element, designated 8|, is again the same as in the previously described embodiments. The base positioning and securing member is provided with a medial transverse portion 82 which extends between the inner surface of the exterior building wall 80 and the interior surface of the base member 88 which is preferably spaced therefrom.

Adjacent theinterior surface of the building wall 80 the securing member is provided with a flange 83 for securement to such wall by nailing or the like and adjacent the interior surface of the base member 8! the securing and position= ing member is provided with a flange 84 for supporting a pivoted plate 85. The pivoted plate 85 again may be the same in construction and operation as in the previously described embodiments. For the purpose of illustrating a further feature of construction which is applicable to all of the base securing and positioning members already described, however, the plate 85 is shown in Fig. 6 as being attached to the flange 84 by means of a pivot pin 88 which passes through an elongated slot 81 in the plate 85.

By virtue of this construction the plate 85 may be pivoted about the pin- 86 until its upper and lower ends engage beneath the upper and lower flanges of the base member 8| but as an approximately vertical position of the plate 85 is approached such plate may move upwardly or downwardly with respect to the fiange 84 of the positioning and securing element. In this way compensation is ailorded for unevenness which may be encountered in the already formed fioor and building construction. It is to be understood that the slotted formation of the plate 85 of Fig.

6, where it is associated with the pivot pin 88, is not peculiar to the form of fastening device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, but may be incorporated in the embodiments of Figs. 1 through 4 with equal efllcacy.

In Fig. '1 there is illustrated a fragmentary base element securing and positioning member which might form a part of any of the base element securing and positioning members described in the previous embodiments. In Fig. 7 the numeral 90 refers to the transverse portion or the positioning and securing member which is present in the other embodiments and the numeral 9| is directed to a flange which is adapted to be disposed against the inner surface of a longitudinal base member. The flange M has an upwardly extending portion 92 integral therewith and adapted to be disposed beneath the upper flange of a longitudinal base member. A plate 93 is pivoted to the flange M as at t l and its lower end 95 is adapted, when the plate as is moved to a vertical position, to enter the recess formed by the lower flange of a longitudinal base member in a manner similar to that of the previously described embodiments, the difference being that in the present instance only one of each pair of base flange engaging portions is movable with respect to the positioning and securing member proper. A manipulating portion 98 is also provided. If desired the lower portion 95 of the plate 93 may be ofiset so that it is disposed in the same plane as the upwardly projecting portion 92 of the flange 9i. To accommodate such oifsetting, the flange 9i may be notched as at 91.

Several embodiments of the principles of the instant invention have been illustrated and described in detail and it will appear to those skilled in the art that details of one of the embodiments may be transferred to other of the embodiments with the exercise of mechanical skill, and that various modifications in the several structures may be made within the spirit. and scope of my invention, which is not to be considered as limited otherwise than in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, and positioning and securing means for said longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and another portion for interlocking engagement with said longitudinal element, said interlocking portion comprising a pair of recess engaging portions for engagement respectively in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses, and a fulcrum pin securing one of said recess engaging portions to the other for movement to and from recess engaging position.

2. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, and positioning and securing means for said longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and a rigid elongate arm movably attached thereto, said arm being movable relatively to said secured portion to a position wherein its opposite ends engage within the upper and lower recesses of said longitudinal element to securely assemble and position the latter with respect to the building,

3. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for said longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and an arm pivoted thereto and movable to and from a substantially vertical position, said arm being adapted when in vertical position the building.

4. In a metal base for partition structures, a pair of base plates each having a marginal flange at the upper and lower edges, and clips for supporting said base plates upright in spaced parallel relation, each said clip having a body member extending transversely to the planes of said plates and at each end of said member an upstanding arm for interlocking engagement at top and bottom respectively with the terminal flanges of said plates, said arms being normally of lesser effective length than the space between the said upper and lower flanges of the plates and having means providing for extension of the arms to bring the upper and lower edges thereof into said interlocking engagement with the flanges.

5. In a metal base for partition structurea'a base plate having a marginal flange at its upper and lower edges, and clips for supporting said base plate upright, each of said clips having a body member extending transversely to the plane of said plate and at one end of said member an upstanding arm for interlocking engagement at the top and bottom respectively with the terminal flanges of said plate, said arm being normally of lesser efiective length than the space between the upper and lower flanges of the plates and having means providing for extension of the arms to bring the upper and lower edges thereof into interlocking engagement with the flanges, and other means associated with said member for securement of said clip to a building structure.

6. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for said longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and an arm pivoted thereto and movable toward and from a vertical position, said arm being engageable at its opposite ends in the upper and lower recesses of said lonigtudinal element by movement toward a vertical position to secure and position the longitudinal element with respect to the building.

7. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and a pair of arms carried thereby, said arms being disposed against each other flatwise and secured for relative pivotal intersliding movement with respect to each other whereby said pair oi arms may be brought into interlocking engage. ment in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of said longitudinal element to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

8. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and a pair of arms carried thereby, said arms being disposed against each other fiatwise and secured for relative intersliding movement with respect to each other whereby said pair at arms may be brought into interlocking engagement in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of said longitudinal element to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

9. A partition wall construction including base means comprising a pair of spaced longitudinal elements having substantially vertical web portions with their upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal elements comprising a transverse portion adapted to be secured to a building and a pair of arms at each side of said transverse portion and carried thereby, the arms of each pair being disposed against each other flatwise and secured for relative pivotal intersliding movement with respect to each other whereby each pair of arms may be brought into interlocking engagement in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of one of said longitudinal elements to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

10. A partition wall construction including base means comprising a pair of spaced longitudinal elements having substantially vertical web portions with their upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal elements comprising a transverse portion adapted to be secured to a building and a pair of arms at each side of said transverse portionand carried thereby, the arms of each pair being disposed against each other flatwise and secured for relative intersliding movement with respect to each other whereby each pair of arms may be brought into interlocking engagement in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of one of said longitudinal elements to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

11. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and an arm carried rigidly thereby, a second arm disposed flatwise against the first arm andsecured thereto for relative intersliding movement with respect to the first arm whereby the pair of arms may be brought into interlocking engagement in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of said longitudinal element to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

12. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and an arm carried thereby, a second arm disposed flatwise against the first arm and pivotally attached thereto for relative intersliding movement with respect to the first arm whereby the pair of arms may be brought into interlocking engagement in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of said longitudinal element to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

13. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal element comprising a portion adapted to be secured to a building and a pair of arms carried thereby, said arms being disposed against each other flatwise and secured for flatwise relative movement with respect to each other whereby said pair of arms may be brought into interlocking engagement in said upper and lower longitudinal recesses of said longitudinal element to secure and position the latter with respect to the building.

14. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, a clip having an element adapted to be secured to. a building, a look ing member pivotally and. slidably carried by said clip and adapted to be swung to wedge between the top and bottom flanges of said base means to support said means and to lock it to the clip.

15. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, a clip having an element adapted to be secured to a building, a locking member pivotally and slidably carried by said clip and adapted to be swung to wedge between the top and bottom flanges of said base means to support said means and lock it to the clip, the locking member being freely movable in substantially vertical directions in relation to the clip to permit the movement of the base means in relation to the clip while in its locked position.

, 16. A building wall construction including base means comprising a longitudinal element having a substantially vertical web portion with its upper and lower edges formed to provide upper and lower longitudinal recesses, positioning and securing means for such longitudinal element com-- prising a part adapted to be secured to a building and a pair of arm portions carried th'ereby, said arm portions being disposable in the upper and lower longitudinal recesses of said base means for retaining the latter in assembled position, at least one of said arm portions being pivotally attached to said building secured part for movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said web portion for varying the effective vertical .dis-

tance across said arm portions to effect assembling and disassembling operations.

JOHN J. MANOFSKY. 

